Clause 82 - Abolition of common law rules
Criminal Justice Bill
Public Bill Committees, 23 January 2003, 11:15 am
Mr Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)
In one sentence, we shall vote against the clause because we do not believe that the present law should be done away with until there is a satisfactory alternative.
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield, Conservative)
I was going to speak for more than a sentence. I want to know the impact of subsection (2) on maintaining the common-law rules for a person's reputation. I have looked at clause 102(1); I find it quite interesting, because if I understand it correctly—I wait for the Minister's response—it seems to be an interesting example of trying to codify the rules and then noticing that one issue cannot be codified that might be to the advantage of doing damage to a defendant.
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned till this day at half-past Two o'clock.